Diana Benavides Jenkins

MadridComunidad de Madrid

Summary

I am very interested in experiencing the work environment abroad, both for the life and professional value it represents.I have worked through 2011 in a Master in Environment and Bioclimatic Architecture. I have always been passionate about the sustainable development of architectural projects, and the use of passive and active bioclimatic solutions; now I have had the opportunity to go deeper in this area.I am used to manage corporate clients as well as independent clients, supervising their projects from the birth of the design, to the delivery of the finished space; I have excellent communication skills and I am experienced in client attention, problem solving and working as a leader or part of a team.I also have managed work teams from very early in my career and also have experienced the development of residential and commercial projects; a majority of them as remodelling projects, designing interior spaces and coordinating different contractors.

Work experience

Work experience

Feb 2006 - Present

Senior Architect and owner

DBJ arquitectura

Consultant for independent and corporate clients.Design and strategic remodeling, coordination of different work teams in complex situations.Design of permanent and summer homes and small apartment buildings.

Oct 2004 - Feb 2006

Architecture and Remodelling Manager

Soluciones Modulares de Centroamérica S.A.

Manager of the remodeling department in the company, which required the coordination of different work teams as well as client attention.

Jul 2003 - Oct 2004

Sales Manager

Soluciones Modulares de Centroamérica S.A.

Manager of the project consultants team; as well as working as a consultant with my customer portfolio.

Jul 2002 - Jul 2003

Project Consultant

Soluciones Modulares de Centroamérica S.A.

Working as a furniture design consultant with a customer portfolio.

Jan 2000 - Apr 2000

Budget and architectural design – Internship

Sistemas Constructivos PANACOR S.A.

Working as a designer of a construction system company and also calculating budgets for different clients.

Education

Education

Jan 2011 - Present

Master in Environment and Bioclimatic Architecture

The studies range from the origins of bioclimatic architecture in indigenous practices, to the current uses of renewable energy through geo-biology and bio-construction, ecological urbanism and contemporary bioclimatic architecture.

2001 - 2003

Photographic Arts and Science

Colegio Universitario de Alajuela

From the basics of photography design and composition, history, classic developing and printing techniques, to digital photography and manipulation through photoshop.

1999 - 2001

Degree in Architecture

Highest architecture studies that enables an association to the "Colegio Federado de Ingenieros y Arquitectos de Costa Rica" (CFIA), which is the Costa Rican statutory regulator of architects and engineers.

1993 - 1998

Architectural studies

1987 - 1992

High School Diploma

Skills

Skills

Artlantis Studio

I have used this tool sometimes specially to deliver a moving presentation of a project or animation.

Microsoft Office 2011

I have used Word, Excel and Power Point for school papers, essays, reports, financial analysis and presentations from the time I was in the university to today.
I have grown to take advantage of each of the programs and the way they work together.

Mac OS and Windows

I have owned Mac computers for over 10 years, but have worked in both Windows an Mac OS environments as well, and now I work with both in my computer via Parallels in order to run energy simulation programs.

DesignBuilder

This tool has been introduced to me in the master degree I have been taking this year; I have worked in some models in class, I am very interested in it's ability of checking building energy, carbon, lighting and comfort performance.

Ecotect

This tool has been introduced to me in the master degree I have been taking this year; I have worked in some models in class, I am very interested in the wide range of simulation and building energy analysis it can deliver.

Photoshop

I learned to use this program at the final stage of my photographic studies, and have used it for artistic purposes as well as for architectural montages and project presentations.

VectorWorks

It has been the main tool I have used for design, 3D modeling and presentations since I was in the university.
I love the final graphic results and the ease with which expresses my designs, at the same time it has very concrete construction principals that makes construction plans a breeze.

Certifications

Certifications

French

The Alliance Française Paris Ile-de-France

English

New York, USA

Spanish

Costa Rica

PORTFOLIO

Silver Arrow

Design and strategic remodelling of the 7th floor in the building #7 of Oficentro La Sabana, coordination of different work teams, achieving an on time delivery in a complex situation that included a three month deadline divided in three stages to allow the company to continue their activities while the remodelling took place (800 m2)

Banco Promérica

Due to excellent communication skills and commitment, achieved a close relationship as a consultant for this client that included tasks from the design of promotional stands, automatic tellers, information centres; analysing the possibilities of different spaces before leasing them, the remodelling of many of the branches and main offices; as the downtown branch’s building and Housing Department (667 m2) the Alajuela branch (98 m2), the Curridabat branch (132 m2); to the analysis and delivery of a new corporative image, furniture design and general architectural space.

Universal Stores

Design and inspection of the Perfumery Department of the Desamparados Store (72 m2), and the design and coordination of the remodelling teams of the first and second level in the Avenida Central Store, while the store continued open to the public. (2.000 m2)